Former Senator Kiko Pangilinan is advocating for a free nutritious breakfast for public elementary school students, particularly in areas with high poverty rates, expressing concern over the high number of malnourished children in the country.

Pangilinan cited 2022 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which reported that over three million children under five years old are stunted, while over one million are wasted. The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) also found that one in three Filipino children aged 6-12 suffers from malnutrition, negatively affecting their academic performance, attendance, and overall development.

"Walang batang dapat mag-aral nang gutom. Sa libreng almusal, binibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na magtagumpay," Pangilinan said.

He emphasized that a nutritious breakfast—including rice, eggs, fruits, milk, or locally available food—can improve children's health, school performance, and cognitive development, helping them become productive adults who contribute to the country's economic progress.

Pangilinan estimates that the program would cost ₱13.2 billion annually for a 180-day school year, which could be funded through existing government feeding programs, private sector partnerships, and non-government organizations. He also proposed utilizing the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) poverty alleviation funds.

The former senator urged the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allocate funds for the initiative and called on lawmakers to co-sponsor a bill institutionalizing a free breakfast law for public primary school students.

"Ang pagtutok sa kalusugan at edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan ay isang epektibong paraan para matiyak ang mas maunlad na kinabukasan ng ating bansa," Pangilinan concluded.